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    Old Laptop Salvage

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Renzakuken, Jan 14, 2015.

  1. Renzakuken

    Renzakuken Notebook Geek

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    Hi all

    I've got a project in the works currently. I have an old lenovo laptop which I intend to re-purpose. Than plan is to take everything out, put a LCD Controller Board inside the chasis and use the frame / LCD to connect to my desktop. I currently rent a room which doesn't have the space for a desk, allowing me to use my Desktop conventionally. Therefore this is my solution, connect a HDMI cable from my desktop to the controller board and play games / work while chilling on my bed.
    Adapting the chassis has already been done, I've taken out all the internal workings and left the LCD in place, attached the controller board and now have a remote Screen to use to my hearts content. What I was wondering was; could I route the laptop's inbuilt Keyboard to work with this? I understand you'd need the specifics at some point, but would this be possible? The easiest option I could see is adapting the pins from the keyboard, that would usually connect to the mobo, and converting them to a USB connection?

    Let me know if you have any advise or suggestions.

    Jack
     
  2. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    Yes. Forget about the whole thing and just get an inexpensive used laptop until you find yourself in a roomier space.
     
    tilleroftheearth and alexhawker like this.
  3. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    There are much easier ways to accomplish what you are trying to do (play games in bed).

    1) Since you already modded the display, the "easiest" way to do it is to get a wireless keyboard and mouse, and just use the laptop as a dumb display.

    2) The true "easiest" way to do this is to use game streaming, either through nVidia's remote gamestreaming feature, or through Steam's gamestreaming feature. All CPU / GPU processing happens using your desktop's hardware, and it sends an output video stream to a destination computer.
     
  4. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

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    Renzakuken, get Motorola Atrix Lapdock. It will act as an HDMI monitor and usb keyboard+touchpad and is extremely cheap, thin and light. Avoid newer models, especially 500 - it has some sort of protection from using with non-Motorola equipment. Selling your panel alone should provide enough money for buying the Lapdock, and then you'll need a few cables.